Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-11-19

extreme, Dut IN ner nlghly nervous
condition it was impossible to obtain
the least information from her.
"My heart went out to the forlorn
little one, and begged to be allowed
to bring her here with me. Here l
was, through favor, permitted to keep
her with me in the building appro-
priated to our use. A long siege OF
low fever confined my charge to her
cot for weeks; the doctors and my sis
ter nurses were kind as kind could be,
and aided me in every way to bring the
child safely through.
81 watched the newspapers, and made
such inquiries as I could, but there was
no mention made of q lost little one.
She was still terror-stricken when
spoken to about her past, and l
would not allow the subject mentioned
to her, though in her sleep she wonld
talk of and to papa in the strange
tongue.
II made up my mind to adopt her.
I loved her more each day, and thanked
Heaven for sending me such precious
gift.
"She had convalesced sufficiently to
be out in the fresh spring air, when one
noon, little over two months ago, l
was sitting where I now am, with little
Laura Gas called herr in my lap, when
the house surgeon. accompanied by a
tall, dark-bearded, foreign-looking
gentleman came along the path. The
footsteps on the gravel walk caused the
child to look up. felt her body grow
rigid in my arms; I saw her face pale
as death; her great eyes seemed about
to start from their sockets. All this
for second, then she sprang from my
grasp and rushed towards the stranger !:
".Papal Oh, papa!
II never will forget that meeting. /
wake at night and cry over the scene
as it again comes before me. When
comparative calm was at last restored
I was introduced then I knew why the
child's face had always seemed some
what familiar to me. Her father was
Edward Neville.
Explanation revealed this: He had
been picked up by little trading
sloop belonging at small town in Con-
necticut. The kindly Yankee skipper
had put him to bed, after his rescue, in
the cabin. BY the time they made
port Mr.. Neville was raging with
brain fever; for weeks he lay without
knowledge of where he was; the valu-
able jewelry and large sum of money
found on him secured him the best at
tention, and when he was very low our
house surgeon was sent for as an ex-
pert in such affections. In about two
months he was able to about and give
an account of himself.
HE had been living for sixteen years
in Russia, had married there; in bust
ness he had prospered greatly and was
immensely wealthy. The loss Of his
wife, some three years before, was fol-
lowed by news of the death of his
father, who, dying without will, left
him the only heir to another large for
tune. With his child he travelled
time in France and Ger
many, and finally took passage for his
native land, where he arrived the day
before his terrible adventure. The
French nurse of his child had met
fellow countryman upon the vessel
coming over, and deserted her little
mistress Immediately upon landing, 60
ing off at once to get married.
Leaving his baggage still at the
Custom House, Mr.. Neville had, with
only small satchel, taken his child to
q hotel for the night.
"The next day he started on his un-
fortunate trip to Brooklyn to seek his
old tutor, the only soul he still knew
except his fathers attorneys, now his
own, with whom, however, he was not
On good terms. He wished especially
TO find his friend, that he might obtain
proper attendance for his daughter.
II have told you how they became
On his recovery he could
learn nothing of the fate of his child,
and sorrowfully concluded that she
was buried beneath the waters of the
river. Our surgeon, after curing the
accomplished stranger, became his
strong friend and great admirer; the
esteem was reciprocated, hence the
visit that resulted so happily.
"When he proposed to take the child
away with him, the darling
chung to me and begged
to stay; her entreaties I aided
with my own fearful petitions that she
might remain, if only until fully re-
covered. Mr.. Neville granted our
IT. al l.